Good practice in online communication

Some good practice ideas:

• Choose the most appropriate communication tools for each different type of communication (eg use the news tool for important messages; discussions for reflective conversations).
• Encourage students to communicate with peers and teachers to complete meaningful, collaborative activities.
• Provide explicit expectations for standards of communication (netiquette), and reinforce these in your own communications.
• Monitor and moderate communications to provide timely feedback and coaching, and ensure student safety is maintained.

For more information, see Designing your online/blended unit: site design and development.

Principles:

e-Learning Maturity Model learning process descriptions:

• Students are provided with mechanisms for interaction with teaching staff and other students.

Salmon, G 2011, E-moderating: the key to teaching and learning online, 3rd edn, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxo

Good practice examples:

• Organising discussions in a cross-listed, multi-cohort unit (B & L)
• News items and bulk emails to keep students up to date (B&L)
  
• Weekly bulletins to update students and link to key items (H)
• Clear and constant communication (H)
• eLive tutorials (S&T)